truebluefan

OAKLAND -- The Oakland Athletics announced today the club has agreed to terms with outfielder Shannon Stewart on one-year contract for the 2007 season. To make room for Stewart on the club's 40-man roster, the A's have designated outfielder Charles Thomas for assignment.

Stewart, 32, batted .293 with two home runs and 21 RBI in 44 games for Minnesota last season, making 34 starts in left field and 10 at designated hitter. He had two stints on the 15-day disabled list due to a partial tear of his left plantar fascia, an injury that ultimately ended his season in mid-July. Stewart hit safely in 27 of the Twins first 35 games of the season and was batting .298 when he was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the first time on May 22 (retroactive to May 20). After a five-game rehabilitation stint with Triple-A Rochester of the International League, Stewart was activated from the DL on July 1 and batted .273 (9-33) in nine games in July before going back on the 15-day disabled list on July 16 with a partial tear of his left plantar fascia. He was transferred to the 60-day disabled list on September 1. Stewart missed a total of 106 games last season due to injury.

Originally drafted by Toronto in the first round (19th overall) of the June, 1992 free agent draft, Stewart spent his first eight and a half seasons (1995-2003) in the Majors with the Blue Jays before being traded to the Twins on July 16, 2003 along with Dave Gassner in exchange for current A's outfielder Bobby Kielty. He hit .322 over 65 games for the Twins following the trade, helping the Twins to the American League Central Division title. He finished fourth in the 2003 AL MVP voting.

Stewart enters the 2007 season with a .299 career batting average with 102 home runs in 1188 Major League games.

A's pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Friday, February 16 with the first workout scheduled for the next day. The remainder of the squad will report on Wednesday, February 21 with the first full squad workout set for February 22. The A's will open Cactus League play on Thursday, March 1 against the Milwaukee Brewers in Maryvale.